_And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her._ Ver. 1. _And it came to pass after this._] God's justice, which seemed to sleep, now beginneth to show itself in the punishment of David's foul offences.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. Ver. 2. _And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick._] So did Antiochus, the son of Seleucus, king of Syria, for the love of his step-mother, Stratonice; s... [ Continue Reading ]
But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtil man. Ver. 3. _But Amnon had a friend._] A friend no friend; a carnal friend, but a spiritual enemy, who advised, for the recovery of his body, the ruin of his soul. Such a false fri... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. Ver. 4. Why art thou, being the king's son?] And therefore needest not want for anything. But in addition Amnon should have... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see [it], and eat [it] at her hand. Ver. 5. _Lay thee down on thy bed... [ Continue Reading ]
So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. Ver. 6. _So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick._] He was _Cereus in vitium flec... [ Continue Reading ]
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat. Ver. 7. Go now to thy brother Amnon's house.] David might have suspected that there was something more than ordinary in this request of Amnon, that there was _vipera sub veprecula,_ an ill intention in t... [ Continue Reading ]
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded [it], and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. Ver. 8. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house.] As an ox to the butcher, or as an innocent sheep to the ravenous wolf. _ And she took fl... [ Continue Reading ]
And she took a pan, and poured [them] out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. Ver. 9. _But he refused to eat._] As if he had been very sick: and so bade all to go out: then he called for her again, and so forced her. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought [them] into the chamber to Amnon her brother. Ver. 10. _That I may eat of thine hand._] This he pretended; but he had more mind to feed on those murderi... [ Continue Reading ]
And when she had brought [them] unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. Ver. 11. _Come lie with me, my sister._] _Os ferreum!_ how could he have the face to say thus to a sister? But of some men Seneca saith truly, _Nolunt solita peccare, et paudet non... [ Continue Reading ]
And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. Ver. 12. _Do not force me._] Heb., Do not humble me; _sc., _ by bereaving me of my virginity, which is my chief honour. _Custus, quasi_ καστος, _ornatus:_ αγνος αβ αγος, _ve... [ Continue Reading ]
And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. Ver. 13. _And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go?_] True it is that _Invita virgo vexari potest, vi... [ Continue Reading ]
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. Ver. 14. _He forced her, and lay with her._] A double abomination, either of them deserving death; which because David inflicted not on him, God did. Where we may easily see a hand of justice. A... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her [was] greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. Ver. 15. _Then Amnon hated her exceedingly._] Heb, With great hatred greatly; so did Nero, that shame of mankind, hate his own... [ Continue Reading ]
And she said unto him, [There is] no cause: this evil in sending me away [is] greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. Ver. 16. _There is no cause,_] _sc., _ Of adding this inhumanity to thy former impiety. I have given thee no just occasion for so serving... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this [woman] out from me, and bolt the door after her. Ver. 17. _Put now this woman out from me._] His evil conscience he could not so easily thrust out of his bosom: this the poets call furies, _quia ex furentibus cogitationibu... [ Continue Reading ]
And [she had] a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters [that were] virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. Ver. 18. _A garment of divers colours._] Wrought or embroidered. For with such robes were the king's da... [ Continue Reading ]
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that [was] on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. Ver. 19. _And Tamar put ashes on her head._] Most grievously bewailing in the open street the loss of her virginity; exclaiming against Amnon, as Chrysostom... [ Continue Reading ]
And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he [is] thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. Ver. 20. _And Absalom her brother said unto her._] For to him she addressed herself... [ Continue Reading ]
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. Ver. 21. But when king David heard … he was very wroth.] Why! but was that all? Wherefore did not David, as supreme magistrate, see due execution done on this malefactor, though never so great? Why did he not reprove him at least ver... [ Continue Reading ]
And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. Ver. 22. _And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad,_] _sc., _ About that abuse done to his sister; but made as if he had digested that injury, and put... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. Ver. 23. _And it came to pass after two full years._] So long Absalom had dissembled his wrath, which is - as we use to say of Runnet - the olde... [ Continue Reading ]
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. Ver. 24. _Behold now thy servant hath sheepshearers._] Absalom, though the king's son, was a sheep-master, - such was the simplicity of former time... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Ver. 25. _Lest we be chargeable unto thee._] So tender was David over this his ungracious son: he was ever too passionately affected to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? Ver. 26. _If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go._] Who, being thine eldest, may represent thy person there. Here was a fair glove drawn upon a foul hand: by courte... [ Continue Reading ]
But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. Ver. 27. _But Absalom pressed him._] His so great importunity might well have begotten a jealousy and suspicion both in David and Amnon - had they not been infatuated - that some mischief was intended. But _Deus quem de... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. Ver. 28. _Now Absalom had commanded his servants._] His assassins, whom some con... [ Continue Reading ]
And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled. Ver. 29. _And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon, &c._] So bitter is the end of sinful pleasures. _Cavete a Melampygo._ Amnon died in his sin, w... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. Ver. 30. Absalom hath slain all the king's sons.] Rumour is a loud liar, like a snowball that gathereth as it goeth, “ _Mobilitate viget,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. Ver. 31. _Then the king arose, and tare his garments._] To show that his heart was torn with extreme sorrow for so sad a disaster. It was the time when he took delight to hear of... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose [that] they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. Ver. 32. _And Jonad... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead. Ver. 33. _For Amnon only is dead._] See on 2 Samuel 13:32 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. Ver. 34. _But Absalom fled._] If he had stayed, he should by right have been served as our king Richard I used to serve murderers: he c... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is._ Ver. 35. _As thy servant said, so it is._] But how could he say it and not blush and bleed?... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. Ver. 36. And the king also … wept very sore.] Heb., With a great weeping greatly: this was the product of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day. Ver. 37. _And went to Talmai._] His grandfather by the mother's side, to whom he was the welcomer, because he had slain Amnon, who had deflowered his niece Tamar.... [ Continue Reading ]
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. _And David mourned for his son every day,_] _i.e., _ For his son Amnon. This was a long while to mourn for a lost son - viz, every day for three years' time. The grief was, - (1.) For that he was so basely butchered by his own brother... [ Continue Reading ]
And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. Ver. 39. _And the soul of king David longed to go forth._] He had many sallies and egressions of affection toward him, and could, but for stark shame, have gone himself, or sent... [ Continue Reading ]